As technology is moving toward cloud computing and virtualization it has led to the SDN paradigm, which separates the data plane from the control plane and places control at the application layer as opposed to the network layer. SDN provides dynamic and efficient configuration by switching control from to software. In comparison to traditional networks, it has a number of advantages, including lower costs, improved security, greater flexibility, and the prevention of vendor lock-in. As a result, SDN has become one of the essential solutions for replicating, re-policing, and re-configuring large-scale networks with periodic updates such as Data Centres. The most widely used SDN protocol/standard at the moment is OpenFlow, which includes design specifications. By integrating OpenFlow, data centers’ networking by making the network more consistent. A single controller architecture will be inefficient for such more extensive networks; thus recent Research has introduced software-defined with multiple controllers to the of High-availability and tolerance. Furthermore, there are a number of projects that offer SDN architecture, all of which need to be thoroughly analyzed based on their performance under various criteria in order to determine their efficiency. A comparison of the performance of multiple controller SDN architectures versus a single controller SDN architecture is presented in this paper. This study developed and examined the OpenDaylight SDN controller, using the Mininet as a network emulator. We perform a performance evaluation considering average throughput , Topology time, flow setup, table read time, flow deletion time considering different numbers of switch cases using Opendaylight Controller. Packet capturing and analysis under various conditions were performed in the experiment and presented as a graph. Under the high load, the cluster throughput and near to the mode. Further, we implement the Single controller connection for the switches and compare it against the normal all controller connection mode. We found that with a Single Controller connection in Cluster, the average topology discovery time, and flow setup time does improve. As a result, these experiments with SDN networks demonstrate that they can be improved under different network conditions.

In this thesis, a scheme of using multiple controllers which handle multiple network devices has been proposed, while using OpenFlow controllers in the proactive operations paradigm, and this in order to face the problem of using a single controller in the SDN model, including the lack of reliability and scalability on such a model. The main characteristic of this new approach are focused on the ability to design a dynamic and highly programmable network, moving the intelligence from the underlying systems to the network itself through a controller. To evaluate the proper effects of this new approach, different dynamic and programmable networks that could simulate real scenarios and measure their performance contrasting the obtained results with the pragmatic theory has been implemented. The SDN (Software-Defined Network) controller (Open Daylight), has been utilized, and thoroughly examined. Different sort of nets has been worked out through diverse Open Daylight functionalities, either implementing the intelligence of the controller (bundle), or going through it by an outside intelligent application (External Orchestrator), and eventually sending it through Open Daylight (by making Open Daylight work as an interpreter/translator from its language to OpenFlow or another protocol language). Summing up, the scheme that has been proposed in this research which is the multiple-proactive mode approach and the single proactive controller has scored no packet loss at all, in which implies the strength of reliability of this scheme, while the multiple reactive mode approach has a range of 1-8% packet loss ratio and the single reactive mode approach has a range of 1-25% packet loss ratio. Also, in case of delay the improvement which was obtained from our approach scored an average reduction of 13% comparing with other tested schemes. Thus, these new and interesting technologies show an astonishing capability to add more efficiency in different types of Networks.

Wireless networks are common in large organisations that can cover multiple floors and buildings. Wireless networks become expensive as they grow and more control and coordination is needed to operate and management them. This thesis describes how CloudMAC, a software defined networking solution (SDN), were implemented in OpenDaylight Hydrogen, a SDN controller. CloudMAC reduces complexity in large wireless local area networks. CloudMAC splits access points (AP) into, a physical (accesses the wireless medium) and a logical (handles the processing of data) part. These two part are then placed in different locations in a wired network. The parts are connected by making tunnels through the network. Some of the communications in wireless networks are time sensitive. Such time sensitive communication is easily disturbed during congestion. To improve CloudMAC, quality of service (QoS) was implemented. QoS was used both in the wired network and in accessing the wireless medium. Evaluations shows how to evaluate queues utilization and performance.

This Diploma thesis deals with virtualization of data networks, but mainly with concept of software-defined networking. Architecture, security risks and differences besides traditional networks are described within SDN framework. Description includes protocol OpenFlow, which is integral part of SDN concept. Brief summary mentions also NFV concept. The goal of this thesis is to determine available solutions, invent laboratory task and compile laboratory manual. Tables with currently available controllers and commutators for SDN were created and pattern of laboratoral task was realized within Mininet emulator and OpenDaylight controller. Laboratoral task itself is designed with aim to apprize students of subject of Network architecture with SDN concept and its real implementation.

This thesis covers utilization of software defined networks for lawful interception purposes. Based on specific implementation of lawful interception system SLIS developed by Sec6Net group, suggests improvements aiming at more precise identification of intercepted users and better effectivity of system resources. First aim is achieved by implementation of a new module for dynamic identification component while the other one alters configuration mechanism for probes and OpenFlow switches.

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is a network architecture that differs from traditionalnetwork planes. SDN has tree layers: infrastructure, controller, and application. Thegoal of SDN is to simplify management of larger networks by centralizing control into thecontroller layer instead of having it in the infrastructure. Given the known advantages ofSDN networks, and the flexibility of cloud computing. We are interested if this combinationof SDN and cloud services affects network performance, and what affect the cloud providersphysical location have on the network performance. These points are important whenSDN becomes more popular in enterprise networks. This seems like a logical next step inSDN, centralizing branch networks into one cloud-based SDN controller. These questionswere created with a literature studies and answered with an experimentation method. Theexperiments consist of two network topologies both locally hosted SDN (baseline) and cloudhosted SDN. The topology used Zodiac FX switches and Linux hosts. The following metricswas measured: throughput, latency, jitter, packet loss, and time to add new hosts. Theconclusion is that SDN as a cloud service is possible and does not significantly affect networkperformance. One limitation with this thesis was the hardware, resulting in big fluctuationin throughput and packet loss.

This is a Masters student Final Dissertation / In this project, two tests were performed. On the first test, Mininet-WiFi was used to simulate a Software Defined Network to demonstrate Mininet-WiFi’ s ability to be used as the Software Defined Network emulator which can also be integrated to the existing network using a Network Virtualized Function (NVF). A typical organization’s computer network was simulated which consisted of a website hosted on the LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) virtual machine, and an F5 application delivery controller (ADC) which provided load balancing of requests sent to the web applications. A website page request was sent from the virtual stations inside Mininet-WiFi. The request was received by the application delivery controller, which then used round robin technique to send the request to one of the web servers on the LAMP virtual machine. The web server then returned the requested website to the requesting virtual stations using the simulated virtual network. The significance of these results is that it presents Mininet-WiFi as an emulator, which can be integrated into a real programmable networking environment offering a portable, cost effective and easily deployable testing network, which can be run on a single computer. These results are also beneficial to modern network deployments as the live network devices can also communicate with the testing environment for the data center, cloud and mobile provides. On the second test, a Software Defined Network was created in Mininet using python script. An external interface was added to enable communication with the network outside of Mininet. The amazon web services elastic computing cloud was used to host an OpenDaylight controller. This controller is used as a control plane device for the virtual switch within Mininet. In order to test the network, a webserver hosted on the Emulated Virtual Environment – Next Generation (EVENG) software is connected to Mininet. EVE-NG is the Emulated Virtual Environment for networking. It provides tools to be able to model virtual devices and interconnect them with other virtual or physical devices. The OpenDaylight controller was able to create the flows to facilitate communication between the hosts in Mininet and the webserver in the real-life network / The University of South Africa The University of Johannesburg / College of Engineering, Science and Technology

In this project, two tests were performed. On the first test, Mininet-WiFi was used to simulate a Software Defined Network to demonstrate Mininet-WiFi’ s ability to be used as the Software Defined Network emulator which can also be integrated to the existing network using a Network Virtualized Function (NVF). A typical organization’s computer network was simulated which consisted of a website hosted on the LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) virtual machine, and an F5 application delivery controller (ADC) which provided load balancing of requests sent to the web applications. A website page request was sent from the virtual stations inside Mininet-WiFi. The request was received by the application delivery controller, which then used round robin technique to send the request to one of the web servers on the LAMP virtual machine. The web server then returned the requested website to the requesting virtual stations using the simulated virtual network. The significance of these results is that it presents Mininet-WiFi as an emulator, which can be integrated into a real programmable networking environment offering a portable, cost effective and easily deployable testing network, which can be run on a single computer. These results are also beneficial to modern network deployments as the live network devices can also communicate with the testing environment for the data center, cloud and mobile provides. On the second test, a Software Defined Network was created in Mininet using python script. An external interface was added to enable communication with the network outside of Mininet. The amazon web services elastic computing cloud was used to host an OpenDaylight controller. This controller is used as a control plane device for the virtual switch within Mininet. In order to test the network, a webserver hosted on the Emulated Virtual Environment – Next Generation (EVENG) software is connected to Mininet. EVE-NG is the Emulated Virtual Environment for networking. It provides tools to be able to model virtual devices and interconnect them with other virtual or physical devices. The OpenDaylight controller was able to create the flows to facilitate communication between the hosts in Mininet and the webserver in the real-life network. / Electrical and Mining Engineering

In this project, two tests were performed. On the first test, Mininet-WiFi was used to simulate a Software Defined Network to demonstrate Mininet-WiFi’ s ability to be used as the Software Defined Network emulator which can also be integrated to the existing network using a Network Virtualized Function (NVF). A typical organization’s computer network was simulated which consisted of a website hosted on the LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) virtual machine, and an F5 application delivery controller (ADC) which provided load balancing of requests sent to the web applications. A website page request was sent from the virtual stations inside Mininet-WiFi. The request was received by the application delivery controller, which then used round robin technique to send the request to one of the web servers on the LAMP virtual machine. The web server then returned the requested website to the requesting virtual stations using the simulated virtual network. The significance of these results is that it presents Mininet-WiFi as an emulator, which can be integrated into a real programmable networking environment offering a portable, cost effective and easily deployable testing network, which can be run on a single computer. These results are also beneficial to modern network deployments as the live network devices can also communicate with the testing environment for the data center, cloud and mobile provides. On the second test, a Software Defined Network was created in Mininet using python script. An external interface was added to enable communication with the network outside of Mininet. The amazon web services elastic computing cloud was used to host an OpenDaylight controller. This controller is used as a control plane device for the virtual switch within Mininet. In order to test the network, a webserver hosted on the Emulated Virtual Environment – Next Generation (EVENG) software is connected to Mininet. EVE-NG is the Emulated Virtual Environment for networking. It provides tools to be able to model virtual devices and interconnect them with other virtual or physical devices. The OpenDaylight controller was able to create the flows to facilitate communication between the hosts in Mininet and the webserver in the real-life network. / Electrical and Mining Engineering / M. Tech. (Electrical Engineering)